Therriault resigns to take new role
CHANGE: North Pole republican will advise Parnell on energy
By SEAN COCKERHAM
scockerham@adn.com
Published: August 21st, 2009
ALASKA -- State Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault is resigning from the Legislature after 17 years for a job in the new administration of Gov. Sean Parnell.
He will be Parnell's senior policy advisor on Alaska energy, a newly created job.
The Republican from North Pole said Parnell approached him after the special session earlier this month and said he wanted help with in-state energy initiatives. Therriault said that includes the proposed "bullet line" to run natural gas from the North Slope to Southcentral, electrical intertie issues, and alternatives for rural village energy.
"(Parnell) just felt that he needed somebody to help him just take the huge amount of information that is coming back from all those initiatives and determine where the state should place its emphasis to get some success," Therriault said.
Parnell said in a written statement that the "position will bring greater focus, coordination, and analysis related to development of Alaska's vast energy resources."
